In 2010, Jefferson Parish School Board members lost their bids for reelection, and some of them felt local business leaders lined up against them.

According to an internal audit of the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO), at least one person at the commission engaged in the political process and violated the state law.

Former Jefferson Parish School Board member Libby Moran said she now considers herself semi-retired.

Moran served on the board for 16 years – four full terms – before losing her bid for reelection in Fall 2010.

“The thing that bothers me most, I feel betrayed by a lot of people,” Moran said.

She claims that some business leaders in the parish campaigned against her, and suspects that people involved in JEDCO were opposed to her reelection bid.

While no specific names are mentioned, the internal audit said that "JEDCO employees were engaged in political campaign activities during the year ended December 31, 2010."

The report said employees used JEDCO’s email system to engage in the political activities.

Auditors found that JEDCO was "not in compliance with the requirements as described in Louisiana R.S. 18:1465."

That law prohibits public money, which JEDCO's email system is paid for with parish dollars, from being used for political candidates and campaigning.

JEDCO’s chairman of the board, Jim Garvey, told the I-Team that some of the emails did deal with the school board races.

“It bothers me and I can't do anything about it at this point,” Moral said.

Garvey, who also serves as an elected state educational official, said the people inside JEDCO responsible for the improper campaign activity have been disciplined.

Garvey also noted that those responsible have been educated about the proves and have not violated the law since.

Nonetheless, the parish launched an investigation into the matter.

“We want to make sure they are non-political,” Jefferson Parish Councilman Chris Roberts said. “That's their priority -- economic development-- that have to be above reproach and that's why we have to get to the bottom of this.”

The WDSU I-Team formally requested all emails related to the audit and its findings.

The Jefferson Parish audit into JEDCO should be completed by the year’s end. Moran said she’ll be first in line to read it.

“I want to know everything, I really do,” she said. “I just want to see what happened. I want the facts to come out. I want the truth to come out I think the public deserves that.”